News Briefs
Kellner Appointed Senior Director at the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
August 4, 2025
Valerie Kellner is an experienced litigator who focuses on defense litigation in the areas of product liability, premises liability and construction litigation including catastrophic injury and death claims. Valerie maintains a diverse civil litigation practice representing manufacturers and suppliers, restaurant and retail chains, general contractors, subcontractors and food producers. She has represented clients in state and federal courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Clients turn to Valerie to protect and advance their interests in all phases of litigation. Her ability to anticipate and understand clients’ needs, expectations and business interests have made her a valued and trusted resource.
Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Valerie was a partner at a mid-Atlantic regional firm for 10 years. Upon graduating law school, she served as a law clerk with the Honorable Rosemary K. Reavey and the Honorable George Nicola in Superior Court of New Jersey in Middlesex County, Civil Division.
Valerie is an active member and sits on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). The FDCC comprises U.S. and international peer-reviewed leaders of the civil defense, corporate legal, and insurance industries. Membership in the FDCC is limited, selective, and by nomination only, and admission requires a rigorous peer review. Valerie is the chair of the Membership Recruitment Committee and past chair of the Communications Committee. She is a vice-chair of the Bylaws & Resolution Committee, the Finance & Budget Committee, and the FedLife Committee. Valerie is a host of the FDCC Speaks Podcast, How FDCC Members Get It Done. She also is the past cochair of the Corporate Counsel Symposium in 2024 and 2021. Valerie has served as a faculty member of the FDCC Deposition Boot Camp. She received the Joseph R. Olshan Award (2024), which is presented to the committee chair whose work has made the most outstanding contribution.
Areas of Focus
General & Premises Liability
Valerie has extensive experience in general and premises liability cases, representing restaurant and retail chains, property owners and apartment complexes. She has handled dram shop cases for a national retail chain including catastrophic and fatality claims as well as slip and falls.
Product Liability
Valerie has defended product liability cases brought against domestic corporations that manufacture or distribute consumer products, heavy construction and industrial equipment, playground equipment, electronics and household appliances. The product liability claims include negligence, strict liability and breach of warranty in the areas of design, manufacture and warnings.
Construction
In the area of construction, Valerie has defended general contractors, construction managers and subcontractors in personal injury cases in state and federal court.
- Rutgers University School of Law (J.D., 1997)
- Rutgers University (B.A., 1994)
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), member, Board of Directors, Executive Committee; Host, FDCC Speaks Podcast; Chair of Membership Recruitment Committee; past Chair of Communication Committee; Vice-Chair Bylaws & Resolution Committee, Finance & Budget Committee, and FedLife Committee; Cochair for Corporate Counsel Symposium, and faculty member of FDCC Deposition Boot Camp
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA)
- National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association (NRRDA)
- American Bar Association, Chairperson for the Products Liability Committee of TIPS and Public Relations Committee
- Judge Pro Tem and Arbitrator, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
- Temple American Inn of Court